Gideon's Chapter: Key Events and Character Analysis

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

Gideon carries Rune up the stairs to his apartment, consumed by a desire he considers unnatural. The intensity of his want feels overwhelming—as if nothing else in the world matters except getting her alone. He reflects that even his brother’s feelings have become irrelevant to him, a shift that surprises him. Rune clearly reciprocates, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and lifting herself onto his hips, and Gideon responds by pulling her closer, his hands tightening on her thighs.

As they kiss, Gideon’s mind is invaded by Harrow’s earlier suspicions. Harrow had warned that Gideon’s desire for Rune might be witchcraft, blinding him to the truth, and had suggested a crude test: look between her thighs for witch marks. Gideon tries to push the voice away, but the thought of being between Rune’s thighs makes him stop halfway up the stairs. He pins her against the wall, breathing hard, and considers dropping to his knees right there in the stairwell. But he restrains himself, realizing he doesn’t know what she likes—or even if she has ever done this before.

Deciding to start in the bed, Gideon carries her the rest of the way to his apartment. He hopes that if he proves himself worthy of her, this could become more than a game—not just flirting and courting, but a shared life. Yet he is terrified to hope for that, because he fears she wouldn’t want all of him. He resolves to start in the bed, uncertain but determined.

Key Events

Gideon carries Rune upstairs, driven by an intense, consuming desire.
He acknowledges that his brother’s feelings no longer matter to him.
Rune reciprocates his advances, wrapping her arms around him and lifting herself onto his hips.
Gideon recalls Harrow’s suspicion that his desire is witchcraft and the suggestion to look for witch marks between her thighs.
He stops on the stairs, pins Rune against the wall, and considers being intimate with her there.
He restrains himself because he doesn’t know what she likes or if she has experience.
He carries her into his apartment and decides to start in the bed.
He hopes the encounter could lead to a shared life, but fears she wouldn’t want all of him.

Character Development

Gideon is torn between overwhelming desire and lingering suspicion. His physical attraction to Rune is so powerful that it overrides his usual caution and even his loyalty to his brother. Yet Harrow’s words plant a seed of doubt, forcing Gideon to confront the possibility that his feelings might be manipulated. His decision to restrain himself—to start in the bed rather than act impulsively in the stairwell—shows a surprising level of care and consideration. He wants to know what she likes, and he worries about her inexperience. This suggests that beneath his desire, he genuinely cares about her wellbeing, not just his own gratification.

Gideon’s fear of hope is also revealing. He imagines a future with Rune—a shared life—but immediately recoils from the idea, terrified that she wouldn’t want all of him. This vulnerability contrasts with his earlier confidence and hints at deeper insecurities. He is not just a hunter or a soldier; he is a man who longs for connection but is afraid of rejection.

Rune is portrayed through Gideon’s perspective as both fierce and hungry. She actively participates in the encounter, coiling her arms around him and lifting herself onto his hips. Her willingness is clear, but Gideon’s uncertainty about her experience suggests that she may be more vulnerable than she appears. Her actions here reinforce her dual nature—she is both a seductress and a young woman navigating a dangerous game.

Harrow, though not physically present, looms over the scene. His suspicion and crude suggestion invade Gideon’s thoughts, representing the external pressure and distrust that surrounds Rune. Harrow’s influence highlights the theme of testing identity and the difficulty of trusting someone when others warn you against them.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Desire vs. suspicion: The central tension of the chapter is Gideon’s struggle between his genuine desire for Rune and Harrow’s accusation that it is witchcraft. This conflict mirrors the larger question of whether Rune is truly who she appears to be. Gideon’s desire is so strong that it feels unnatural to him, which feeds his suspicion. Yet he cannot separate his feelings from the possibility that they are manufactured.

Witchcraft accusation: Harrow’s suggestion to look for witch marks is a crude and invasive test. It symbolizes the broader societal fear of witches and the way suspicion can poison even intimate relationships. Gideon’s internal debate about whether to follow Harrow’s advice shows how external judgments can intrude on private moments.

Testing identity: The chapter is fundamentally about testing—Gideon tests his own feelings, Rune’s responses, and the possibility of a real connection. He wonders if she has done this before, if she knows what she likes, and if she would want all of him. These questions reflect the larger theme of identity and whether Rune is a witch or a woman, a game or a genuine relationship.

Restraint vs. surrender: Gideon’s decision to stop himself in the stairwell is a moment of restraint. He chooses to move to the bed, a more conventional and intimate setting, rather than surrendering to impulse. This restraint is both practical (he doesn’t know what she likes) and emotional (he wants to prove himself worthy). It suggests that he is trying to treat her with respect, even as his desire threatens to overwhelm him.

Fear of hope: Gideon’s terror at hoping for a shared life is a powerful motif. He wants more than a game, but he is afraid to believe it is possible. This fear reflects his past experiences and his uncertainty about Rune’s true nature. It also humanizes him, showing that he is not just a hunter but a man who longs for connection.

Brush with death intensifying desire: The chapter notes that Gideon’s desire might be amplified by a recent brush with death. This motif connects physical passion to mortality, suggesting that the threat of death makes life—and love—more urgent. It also raises the question of whether his feelings are genuine or merely a reaction to danger.

Inexperience and uncertainty: Gideon’s concern that Rune might not know what she likes, or might never have done this before, introduces a theme of inexperience. This uncertainty makes him more cautious and considerate, but it also highlights the vulnerability of both characters. They are navigating a relationship that is both a game and something more real.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter is pivotal because it deepens the romantic and emotional stakes between Gideon and Rune while simultaneously reinforcing the central mystery of Rune’s identity. Gideon’s internal conflict between desire and suspicion mirrors the reader’s own uncertainty about Rune. Is she a witch manipulating him, or is she genuinely falling for him? The chapter does not resolve this question, but it makes the tension palpable.

Gideon’s decision to restrain himself and his fear of hope reveal a more vulnerable side to his character. This humanizes him and makes his eventual choices more impactful. The chapter also sets up future developments by planting the idea of a “shared life” as a possibility, even as Gideon doubts it. The reader is left wondering whether Rune will ever learn of his fears, and whether she will prove worthy of his trust.

Moreover, the chapter explores the theme of testing identity in a deeply personal way. Harrow’s crude suggestion is a reminder of the societal pressure to expose witches, and Gideon’s struggle to ignore it shows how difficult it is to trust someone when others are suspicious. This tension will likely have consequences in the chapters to come.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Gideon decide to start in the bed instead of acting on his impulse in the stairwell?

Gideon restrains himself because he realizes he doesn’t know what Rune likes, and he is uncertain whether she has any experience with intimacy. He wants to be considerate and to prove himself worthy of her, so he chooses a more conventional and comfortable setting—the bed—rather than surrendering to his immediate desire. This decision reflects his care for her and his hope that the encounter could lead to a deeper relationship.

2. How does Harrow’s suspicion affect Gideon’s thoughts and actions in this chapter?

Harrow’s suspicion that Gideon’s desire is witchcraft and his suggestion to look for witch marks between Rune’s thighs invade Gideon’s mind during a passionate moment. This external voice creates internal conflict, making Gideon question whether his feelings are genuine or manipulated. It also leads him to consider testing Rune, though he ultimately does not act on that impulse. Harrow’s influence highlights the theme of distrust and the difficulty of separating genuine emotion from possible deception.

3. What does Gideon’s fear of hoping for a shared life reveal about his character?

Gideon’s fear of hoping for a shared life reveals his vulnerability and insecurity. He wants more than a game—he wants a real connection and a future with Rune—but he is terrified that she wouldn’t want all of him. This fear suggests that he has doubts about his own worthiness and that he is not as confident as he appears. It also shows that he is emotionally invested in Rune, which makes him more susceptible to heartbreak if she turns out to be a witch or if she rejects him.